Sustaining Interest in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Through Mentorship and Training in China: Multi-site Survey...

This study aimed to investigate factors sustaining interest of Chinese residents in child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP), identify barriers to specialization, and determine how residency training experiences shape career choices, addressing critical workforce shortages in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

A multi-site online survey was conducted among psychiatry residents in China to examine their interest in CAP before residency training, track its changes during training, and identify factors influencing these attitudes.

Among the 230 psychiatry residents who responded (response rate = 54.76%), 112 (48.70%) reported moderate-to-high pre-residency CAP predisposition, primarily motivated by the desire to help society (58.04%), career development and advancement (57.17%), and interest in the field (54.46%). Among those residents with prior interest, 25 (22.32%) maintained and 66 (58.93%) increased their interest. Moreover, 46 (38.98%) of the 118 residents who initially perceived barriers increased their interest during the training. Role models who were CAP mentors emerged as the key factor in both sustaining and increasing interest, followed by CAP rotation experiences, whereas the burden of working with parents/families was identified as the main obstacle.

These findings highlight the relatively positive attitudes towards CAP among Chinese psychiatry residents. The changes in CAP interest during residency training highlight the importance of prioritizing CAP mentorship modeling, enhancing positive rotation experiences, and proactively managing emotional burdens during residency training to attract and retain residents in CAP. Addressing these factors is crucial for developing a more resilient and sustained CAMHS workforce equipped to meet China's needs.